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    • Christine Joubert-Watts
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      Post count: 11

      As I’m not usually considered as part of the team to make these difficult decisions, I’ve never personally had to make decisions like these. However, if I can put myself in the shoes of the health care provider as well as the parent, and try and empathise with both of them, I think my most difficult decision would be to not attempt resuscitation. I think, especially with children, I would want to do everything I can to “save” their life, and often, our intention of “saving” can be because of our own guilt, rather than what is in the best interest of the patient. I often find myself (when I’m in the health care provider role) in saviour mode, where the patient in front of me is the victim and I need to save them. This is explained as the “saviour complex”. This is an attitude where a person believes that they are responsible for helping other people. It says that people with a saviour complex often neglects their own self care but I want to add to that and say that they could also act in a way that can be harmful to the person they are wanting to help. I think to recognise this in myself is important, especially when faced with difficult decisions like the above, so that I can make the right decision for my patients.

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